How Do I Repent?

How Do I Repent?

Ezekiel 18:30 " Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise, iniquity will be your ruin.”

This first sentence is letting us know that we will be judged based on our own actions. At one time, it was believed that we would be judged based on the actions of our ancestors. This verse corrects this thought. When I looked up this verse on the Enduring Word Commentary, it said, “The error in believing in communal or family salvation or damnation is so serious and dangerous that God unmistakably emphasized the individual’s responsibility before God.

“It may be true that in my physical being I have inherited tendencies to some forms of evil from my father, but in the fact of my essential relation to God, there are forces available to me more and mightier than all these tendencies. Neither righteousness nor evil is hereditary.” (Morgan)

This is important for each of us to understand. We are not bad because our parents were bad. We are not good because our parents are good. We are responsible for our own actions. This is good news. This means we don’t have anyone to blame but ourselves.  This also means all the responsibility falls on our own shoulders. I want to take a minute to look at one line in particular in the Enduring Word Commentary. It said, “In the fact of my essential relation to God, there are forces available to me more and mightier than all those tendencies we might have inherited.” In other words, we don’t have to do this on our own. Even though we will be judged on our actions, we don’t have to have the strength to make the right choices all on our own.

Because we are children of God, we can call on Him to give us strength and to help us make the right choices. The second part of the verse above says to repent and turn from all your transgressions. The verse I discussed in yesterday’s episode told us to repent and return to the Lord. Today’s verse is telling us to repent and turn away from our transgressions. When I was trying to think about what to talk about in this episode it dawned on me that we might not all know how to repent. Repent is one of those words that we all kinda know what it means but we don’t necessarily know how to define it or how to do it. Repentance is more than just saying “I’m sorry.” It’s a heartfelt turning away from sin and turning toward God. Here’s a biblical and practical step-by-step understanding of how one repents:

1. Recognize the Sin

Repentance begins with awareness. We often live unaware of how our choices, attitudes, or habits go against God’s will.

Ask God for clarity. Sin can be obvious (like lying or cheating) or subtle (like pride, bitterness, or fear that blocks faith). Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.

Listen with humility. Sometimes God uses other people, Scripture, or conviction during prayer to expose what needs to change.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Reflection prompt: Where in my life am I resisting God’s way? What attitudes, habits, or relationships might be leading me away from Him?

2. Feel Godly Sorrow (Not Just Guilt)

This isn’t about shame. It’s about recognizing how our sin hurts our relationship with God and others, and it grieves us deeply—not just because of consequences, but because of love.

Worldly sorrow says, “I’m sorry I got caught or hurt someone.”

Godly sorrow says, “I’ve grieved the heart of the One who loves me most. I want to be changed.”

2 Corinthians 7:10 “ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.”

Reflection prompt: Do I feel sorrow because of what my sin cost, or just because it was exposed?

3. Confess the Sin to God

Confession is honest communication with God. It’s naming the sin and agreeing with Him about its seriousness, without hiding or blaming.

Openly admit your sin to God in prayer. Be specific and honest. No excuses or blaming.“God, I’ve been dishonest in my work,” or “I’ve held unforgiveness toward ___."

Confession is not groveling—it's returning to a loving Father who already knows and still welcomes you.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Reflection prompt: What do I need to confess out loud to God today, trusting in His mercy?

4. Turn Away from the Sin (Change Direction)

This is the literal meaning of repentance: to turn. It means letting go of the old and moving toward a new way of living.

Make a conscious decision to change direction.

You may need to delete contacts, change your routine, stop certain conversations, or set up boundaries. This part is hard—but repentance without change is just regret.

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,”

Reflection prompt: What do I need to let go of today so I can move toward God?

5. Turn Toward God (Restore Relationship)

Repentance isn’t just about stopping sin—it’s about renewing intimacy with God. When we turn from sin, we turn to grace, peace, purpose, and healing.

Pray, even if you feel unworthy. God is not holding your sin against you—He’s welcoming you home.

Dive into Scripture, worship, community, and His promises.

James 4:8a “ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

Reflection prompt: How is God inviting me to return to Him—not in fear, but in love?

6. Bear Fruit That Shows Repentance

This is the outward evidence of an inward change. You don’t earn God’s love by being good—but real repentance produces visible fruit.

Fruit might look like changed speech, different choices, seeking reconciliation, or serving others with a humble heart.

This fruit grows over time—don’t rush it. Stay connected to God and He’ll transform you.

Matthew 3:8 — “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Reflection prompt: What new actions or habits is God inviting me to develop that reflect a changed heart?

Summary: True Repentance Involves…

Head (Recognizing the wrong)
Heart (Feeling sorrow over it)
Hands & Feet (Turning around and walking in a new direction)

Repentance is not about being perfect—it’s about being real before God. It’s how you return home to His love, over and over again. He’s not angry; He’s ready to embrace you.

Luke 15:20 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Dear heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening. Lord, help us to understand repentance more. Move our hearts and show us where we need to repent. Show us where we have sin in our hearts and in our habits. Please help us to recognize sin in our lives and to repent and turn back to you. Please help us to repent and turn away from that sin. Give us the strength to ask you to show us the sin in our lives and the courage to change our habits so that we can walk away from that sin. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’s holy name, Amen!

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. Today’s episode was an example of what I teach in mentoring. Tonight I will go deeper and give more detail into each one of those six steps to repentance. At the end of each mentoring session, I give 2-3 reflection questions to help us stop, talk to the Lord, and really reflect on what we just learned and how it relates to us personally. We look at how we can use what we just learned to make lasting changes in our lives. I invite each one of you to join the mentoring tonight. There is a link below or you can go to the mentoring tab on my website, walkboldlywithjesus.com. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!

Tuesday: Today’s Word from the Lord was received in October 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “Do not be afraid to go forward. I am with you each step of the way. Do not go in the shadows, I keep telling you. Come to me. Come, and I will reveal my light. I will make you a light to others, so that they may come to me and know my love.”

www.findingtruenorthcoaching.com

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